Comments Off on Wawrinka stopped in his tracks by Anderson bombardment

Two metre tall Anderson hurled down 22 aces, the last one on match point, to send Wawrinka spinning to his first loss since he beat world number one Novak Djokovic in spellbinding fashion in the Roland Garros final earlier this month.

Anderson, the world number 17, now has four consecutive wins against Wawrinka, the first of that sequence being the Swiss’s first loss after he won the 2014 Australian Open.

“That’s a funny coincidence,” Anderson, who is in the process of taking out duel U.S. citizenship, told reporters after moving into the quarter-finals.

“I’ve just played these guys a lot of times, and I think it gives me confidence, knowing the guy I beat today just won the French Open and I watched him playing and beat the best players in the world doing it.

“A lot of things I have worked on came to fruition today.”

Wawrinka, the second seed at the prestigious Wimbledon curtain-raiser who needed only 49 minutes to beat Nick Kyrgios on Tuesday, did not play badly.

But even his lethal backhand could make no impression on the mighty Anderson serve.

He fought hard, saving five match points and he missed a golden opportunity to win the second set before succumbing.

Wawrinka will rue the few chances that went begging on a cloudy day in west London, especially the two set points he had on the Anderson serve at 6-5 in the opening set, and the two in a drawn-out second set tiebreak, the second of which he squandered at 11-10 when he sprayed a forehand wide with the court at his mercy.

James Tamou will wear the badge of chief niggler with pride if it’s going to help NSW defeat Queensland again.

Tamou ignited the first fracas of State of Origin II when he and Queensland fullback Billy Slater squared up, with every player on the field running in as tensions almost boiled over.

Slater took umbrage to being pushed in the face by the Blues prop in the 22nd minute, flinging the ball at him.

“The ref called something back and he kept running,” Tamou recalled.

“I thought I’ll try and get him, get in early and try and get under his skin. Hopefully get him off his game.”

The 113kg weapon would happily do it all again.

“I am willing to do my part for the team,” Tamou said.

“If that’s doing all the niggly stuff, I’m willing to do that.”

Tamou, who paid tribute to back-rower Ryan Hoffman and playmaker Trent Hodkinson for calming some of NSW’s hotheads when they were about to cross the line, tipped the series decider on July 8 could get nasty.

“Shots will be fired early I think, with the animosity going into game three,” he said.

“Someone will say something. It’ll be on.

“You saw tonight how frustrated they were and we were.

“Being up in Brisbane, something is bound to happen.”

Tamou noted in the lead-up to the MCG clash that “Queensland’s level of grubbiness outweighs ours, we need to up the ante”.

The 26-year-old suggested after the 26-18 victory that it wasn’t his side’s main focus, but it was certainly something they excelled at.

“We were just fighting fire with fire,” he said.

“They were a little bit shocked by it, that we didn’t take a step back.

“You saw how frustrated they were.

“We got under their skin their skin. They were really close to throwing a punch there … so we really did a good job.”

Tamou quickly added that the job wasn’t done yet.

But as for Slater, he’s hoping the fullback undergoes surgery and they won’t renew acquaintances at Suncorp Stadium.

“I definitely hope he’s not there … he’s the best in the world,” Tamou said.

“He was obviously injured (at the MCG) … a couple of times he stayed down and I was cheering.

“He made a mistake that isn’t such a determining factor as to exclude him,” Sampaoli told a news conference at Chile’s training camp in Santiago.

“What we need is to include him.”

Vidal was charged with drunk driving after crashing his red Ferrari some 18 miles (30 km) south of Santiago on Tuesday night, following an afternoon off from training that he spent at a casino. He is expected to start Chile’s final Group A match against Bolivia on Friday.

Hospital director Sergio Aguilera said three people were hurt including the player, who “had a lightly bruised neck.”

“I had two drinks and had an accident, as everyone knows, and put the life of my wife and other people at risk. And for that I’m really sorry,” Vidal told reporters, his voice cracking as he held back tears.

“I’m really embarrassed and all I can do is ask for forgiveness … and show on the field that this opportunity I’ve been given is worth something,” said Vidal..

After the crash Vidal spent the night in police custody and a judge suspended his driver’s license on Wednesday. The judge opened a 120-day investigation into the accident and will require Vidal to check in with the Chilean consulate in Milan, where he plays for Juventus, while the investigation is ongoing.

The accident put Sampaoli in a tricky position, but he ultimately decided to keep Vidal on Chile’s active roster.

Chilean state television showed pictures of Vidal’s badly damaged car. It later showed Vidal, who has three goals in the tournament after scoring twice in Chile’s 3-3 draw with Mexico on Monday, leaving in a police patrol car from the hospital where he was treated for minor injuries and had his blood-alcohol level tested.

Local radio station BioBio on Wednesday released footage of the player interacting with police shortly after the crash.

“Stop talking stupid,” Vidal said to the officers. “Are you going to handcuff me? Handcuff me, but you’re screwing all of Chile.”

Hosts Chile are top of Group A in the 12-team tournament with four points from two matches, ahead of Bolivia on goal difference. Mexico have two points and Ecuador none.

After team mate Charlie Maddock had claimed gold in the -49kg event on Tuesday, Jones defeated Croatia’s Ana Zaninovic 12-9 in the final to claim Britain’s third gold and fifth medal in total.

Jones, 22, led 5-0 after a dominant opening period, 8-6 after the second and held her nerve to triumph by three points after a tense final two minutes.

Jones became the first ever British athlete to win Olympic gold in taekwondo in 2012 and was also the winner of the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore in 2010.

“I’m just buzzing to be honest,” Jones told reporters. “I got the Youth Olympic Games, the senior Olympic Games so to get the European Games as well and have all three at such a young age is amazing.

“I want to become a legend of my sport so I’m not done yet.”

Jones said Maddock’s success on Tuesday had provided her with extra motivation to emulate her team mate and top the podium in the Azeri capital.

“Charlie did amazing,” Jones added. “She’s only been doing taekwondo a year. It gives me confidence in our programme. I’ve been doing the same training as her, we’re all a team and doing the same thing so it gives you confidence.”

En route to the gold medal, the second seed was nearly beaten by Hungary’s Edina Kotsis in the quarter-final, trailing 2-1 late on before landing a kick to the face of her opponent with just 23 seconds of the final period remaining and progressing 5-2.

In her semi-final, Jones was 7-1 up and cruising against Sweden’s Nikita Glasnovic, but had to withstand a late fightback, eventually prevailing 7-6.

She beat Cypriot Despina Pilavaki 9-1 in the opening round at the Crystal Hall.

One thing appears certain after Queensland’s 26-18 State of Origin II loss to NSW on Wednesday night – Greg Inglis is back.

But the Maroons still questioned one aspect of a revitalised Inglis’ game two effort – his crucial disallowed try.

Showing no signs of his illness-marred game one display, Inglis brought an Origin record 91,513-strong MCG crowd to its feet when he scooped up a Mitch Pearce loose ball and raced 90m to cross in the 68th minute and gift Queensland the lead.

Or so they thought.

The video referee ignored the whistleblower’s “try” recommendation and ruled Michael Morgan had knocked on while jolting the ball free from NSW No.6 Pearce in the lead-up.

“It was a tough one. It was awarded a ‘try’ (by the on-field referee) so there was a lot of doubt over whether it was knocked on,” Queensland coach Mal Meninga said.

“But that was the rub of the green – a lot of things went against us and the opposition capitalised on it.”

Queensland captain Cameron Smith was more adamant on Inglis’ effort.

“It was a 50-50 call. (But) I didn’t think there was a knock-on there,” he said.

“I thought when the ball came out it headed towards our try-line – but I was wearing a Maroon jersey though wasn’t I?”

Maroons fullback Billy Slater also thought it was a try.

“Those little decisions didn’t go our way tonight,” he said.

“But we lost the game, we didn’t complete as good as we did in the first one and that certainly hurt us.”

Still, there was plenty to be excited about in Inglis’ game two display – and for NSW to be worried about.

Inglis was a shell of himself in Queensland’s 11-10 game one win after spending three nights in hospital while being treated for tonsillitis in the lead-up.

However, the South Sydney captain was back to his barnstorming best in game two.

He combined brilliantly with his “wingman” Darius Boyd to score an Origin record 16th try in the 33rd minute to reduce NSW’s lead to 12-10.

Incredibly it marked his first Origin try since 2013’s game two, snapping a five match drought.

Inglis racked up a remarkable seven tackle busts to amass 128m for the match to confirm he was truly back to his ominous best.

Slater agreed Inglis was impressive but still tried to defend the centre’s underwhelming Origin I display.

“I saw that GI (on Wednesday night) in game one,” he said.

“He didn’t get as many opportunities but he was physical in defence.

“But he was great tonight, probably one of our best.”

Asked about a “fantastic” Inglis’ 90m effort that ultimately led to a disallowed try, Meninga quipped: “I reckon that’s the quickest he’s moved for a while to be honest.”

And it seems he is not showing any signs of slowing down ahead of a crunch Origin III in Brisbane on July 8.

Despite a sensational display to beat world number one Novak Djokovic in the Roland Garros final last week to claim his second grand slam title, Wawrinka is self-deprecating when it comes to comparing himself with the best.

Anderson thinks the 30-year-old Swiss should now be regarded as equal to Djokovic, Andy Murray, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer.

“I was just thinking about that the other day, actually,” Anderson, who now has four consecutive wins against Wawrinka after his 7-6 7-6 victory on the west London grass, told reporters.

“I think historically, yes (he is right), but in the last year and a half, the six (grand slams), Stan’s won two of them and Novak has two and, you know, nobody else has that.

“So you can make a pretty strong case that I think he’s proved himself to be one of the top four guys in the world.”

Wawrinka, who won the 2014 Australian Open against a less than 100 percent fit Nadal, has risen to fourth in the ATP rankings and was not too disappointed with his loss.

“I think it was in general a good level,” he said. “I did one big mistake on the set point, but that’s it.”

But despite an incredible 18 months he still insists the Big Four has not become a Big Five.

“For sure if you look last two years, I’m number four in the world with two grand slams, Masters 1000, one 500, two or three 250, one Davis Cup, so that’s amazing,” he said.

“But when we talk about the Big Four it’s been 10 years.”

Wawrinka will now stay in London and sharpen his grasscourt game for Wimbledon where he lost to fellow Swiss Roger Federer in last year’s quarter-finals.

“I’m going to practice hard, for sure,” he said. “I am trying to find the right balance between resting and practice. I’m quite tired mentally. Physically, also, but especially mentally.”

Super League club Hull KR have stepped up their search for a new halfback following the loss of skipper Terry Campese for the rest of the season, but coach Chris Chester says they can’t bring in Parramatta’s Chris Sandow because he’s a “full-blown Aussie”.

Campese, who made a tremendous start to his Super League career, is facing a six-month lay-off after it was confirmed on Wednesday he had suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate knee ligament against Castleford a fortnight ago.

The former Canberra stand-off will undergo reconstructive surgery but Chester insists there are no long-term fears for his skipper, who recently signed a two-year contract extension, and that he will be fit for the start of the 2016 Super League season.

Chester will stick with the versatile Maurice Blair as the halfback partner for Albert Kelly against Warrington on Friday but says he was already on the look-out for an extra halfback for next season.

Rovers have been linked with Sandow, 26, who looks to be on his way out of Parramatta, but Chester says his club are hampered by red tape.

“We’re certainly not bringing in Chris Sandow,” Chester said.

“We haven’t got any quota spots available so whoever we bring in will have to have a European or a Samoan or Tongan passport.

“Terry Campese has got an Italian passport.

“We’ve talked to a couple of players’ agents overseas who have come up with a couple of names but it’s very early days because last week we thought he was only going to be missing for three or four weeks. We found out late last night that it would be six months.

“There are a few good names out there but we can’t fit a quota player in. I’m pretty sure Chris Sandow is a full-blown Aussie.”

Chester says the club will find a role for Campese during his rehabilitation.

“It’s obviously a big blow to the club but more so for Terry because I think he’s been the best overseas signing to come over here this year and definitely a Man of Steel candidate,” Chester said.

“The surgeon’s very confident that he’ll come back a new bloke.

“It’s going to be six months which will take him up to December, so he’ll play some part in the friendlies over January and be ready for the start of Super League.

“He’ll be down at every training session – the boys can learn a lot off him. He knows how to play the game, he’ll make a great coach when he eventually finishes playing.”